15 products to fake a perfect summer glow

By Ally Dean

June 18, 2015

Creating the perfect (faux) summer tan can be as challenging as finding the vacation house of your dreams, so we turned to the man who gave Jennifer Lopez her famous “JLo glow” for assistance. “You want to create a restrained luminosity that warms your complexion without looking like you’re using makeup,” celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes - whose other A-list clients includeGwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncé and Kate Hudson - tells HELLO!.

“Summer beauty is all about looking expensive,” Scott said when we caught up with him in New York City. “You want to create a socialite vibe that looks effortless, flawless and really, really rich.” Here, we break down the steps to a million-dollar sun-kissed glow.

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BRONZED BASE

For sun-kissed colour with more coverage to mask dark spots, blemishes or redness, choose colour correcting products that are a half-shade to full-shade deeper than your complexion. “You want to look lit-from-within – not dirty or muddy,” says Scott. Choose a formula with a yellow undertone (as opposed to red) for a softer, more realistic glow.

The key to a flawless, airbrushed look is a bronzing primer that evens skin tone and creates a luminous (never shiny) finish. Once your base is set, apply a skin care-meets-makeup hybrid – such as a tinted moisturizer, BB or CC cream – for fool-proof, even coverage.

Incorporate a liquid bronzer into your routine to dial up your glow. “This is a Mediterranean summer in a bottle,” says Linda Cantello, makeup artist for Giorgio Armani Beauty of the new formulations. Lightweight liquid bronzers can be applied on their own or mixed with moisturizer or foundation to create your preferred level of intensity.

SUNNY SKIN CARE

Adding a sunless tanner to your skin-care routine can be more intimidating than wearing Birkenstocks in public. “The products are more sophisticated than ever, but you still have to take your time and use them properly to avoid streaks or uneven patches,” says Jacqui Burchell, product development director at St. Tropez. Jacqui recommends applying your gradual, sunless tanner at night. “You wake up with a perfect glow – it’s the best kind of beauty sleep!”

Prep skin with an exfoliating peel or scrub. “Be sure to use an oil-free formula to avoid getting streaks,” Jacqui tells Hello! Dab your formula onto the areas you’d naturally tan (forehead, cheeks and chin) then blend outward. Avoid applying tanner to your eyelids or eyebrows, and use a light touch around your lips and nostrils as these areas are usually dry and prone to developing an orange tint.

Blend a small amount of product on your jawline, down your neck and into your hairline for a seamless look. “Everyone forgets to extend colour, especially on their ears,” says Jacqui. “Nothing looks worse than a tan line on your face.”

SHADOW PLAY

Swap contouring – the beauty craze that launched a thousand YouTube videos – for subdued, texture-focused sculpting. “I was doing contouring before Kim [Kardashian] knew what it was,” Scott jokes, “but unless you’re at a photo shoot or in front of the paparazzi, it can look like you have crazy lines on your face.” Translation? This is not everyday makeup.

For a realistic, flattering glow Scott recommends using a big, fluffy brush to apply a glitter-free, pressed-powder. “Always tap off excess product before applying anything to your face and use rapid circular motion to buff powder onto skin,” he says. To instantly slim your appearance, concentrate bronzer around the perimeter of your face – think temples, hairline, chin and jawline – and avoid the bridge of your nose which can enhance dark circles. To accentuate cheekbones, blend a rose-gold highlight on the high planes of your face. A wash of copper or champagne shadow across your lid and nude-tinted lip balm complete the overall golden look.

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